Tombstone epitaph., 1887-12-24
SAD ACCIDENT.
John M. Aston Killed by the Pistol of a
 Fri nd

Fri nd
 One of the saddest accidents it has been the EPlTAPh's duty to chronicle, occurred last Tuesday, between Ochoa- vile and the Mexican custom-house. The following are the circumstances as detailed by Mir. H. w. Harrison, super ntendent of the Copper King mine, through whose misfortune the untimely death took place. MT. Hartson states that Aston and himself left OChoavile together and rode down to the custom house, Aston having some business to transact. Alter Aston had arranged h.s affairs, the two started back to Ochoa- vile. When about seven miles up the other side of that point flock of crows was noticed near the road, and both Aston and Hartson took shots at them. The birds rose and circling in the air allghted on the other side of the road, Aston being between Aartson and the crows, Both men concluded to take another shot apiece, and Harrison not wanting to fire across his companion, refined in his horse and fell behind. Throwing his hand to his pistol, Hartson pulled it from It's sCabbard, in doing which it was discharged. MT. Hartson states that he has no recollection of cooking the weapan, and does not believe that he could have done so without re- membering it. As the weapon was directly in line with Aston when it was discharged, Harston immediately asked: "Jehn did hit your" To this Aston re- piled "No." Hartson still not satisfied, said, Are you sure% Aston laughed and again assured Harrison that he was not hit. After riding short distance further, Aston turned to his companion and said, "By George! l believe you did hit me-" Getting down from their horses an examination was made, and the painful fact elicited that not only was the painful fact elicted that not only was he shot, but he was mortally wounded. The ball from forty. five Smith & Wes- son had struck him in the small of the back, to the left and about midway be- tween the spinal column and the side, passing completely through the body. Hastily binding up Aston's wounds which bled but little, denoting in ternal hemorrhage, Harston mounted his horse and started back to the custom house to procure assistance. Proceed ing about a mile he met wagon, con- tainlng four Americans, and notifying them of the accident, they made all haste to the wounded man. Placing Aston in the wagon, two of the men took the horses belonging to Aston and Hart son and rode ahead to notify Mrs. Aston of the sad affair and send for physician, Hartson remaining with Aston and min istering to his comfort in every possible way. During the trip into Ochoaville, the stricken man suffered great deal, and expressed the opinion several times that his wound was mortal one.
 A messenger was immediately dis patched for Dr. E. C. Dunn of thls city, who at once proceeded to Ochoaville, but before his arrival Mir. Aston breathed his last.
 The body was brought here and pre- pared for shipment to his old home in Abilene, Texas, to which placeit was for warded yesterday. A large concourse of friends accompanied the remains to the railroad. Before leaving, however, Coroner's inquest was held, the verdict exonerating MT. Hartson.
 Mir. Aston was 3S years old and leaves {. widow and six children, who have the heartfelt sympathy of this community.